The Chieftain's Choice (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 1)

by Elaine Manders

  The cook came shuffling back with another woman following. “M’lady, this is Mary Thayer from Gilmour. She wishes to speak with you.”

  Alana took in the woman’s appearance, thin, medium height, graying braided hair. She was certain she’d seen this servant before. Mrs. Thayer dropped a curtsey. “I’m lady’s maid to Lady Gilmour, m’lady. I’ve been dismissed from Gilmour Hall.”

  “Of course, Aunt Elspeth’s maid. I recall now. Where is Lady Gilmour?”

  “That’s just it.” Tears sprang into Mrs. Thayer’s eyes. “I don’t know.”

  Alana noticed Halberd and Cook staring at them. “Let’s go into my sitting room to talk.” She led the way to the small back parlor. The fear that Vanora had done something to Aunt Elspeth came back, knotting the nerves in her queasy stomach.

  They sat in facing chairs. “Tell me everything you know, Mrs. Thayer.”

  The woman lifted a small square of linen to her eyes before speaking. “It all happened so fast, I don’t know what happened, and that’s the truth.”

  “Who dismissed you?” No one but Aunt Elspeth had the right to dismiss her personal maid.

  “I was waiting for her ladyship to return from her morning walk when Lady Vanora came into her ladyship’s chambers. She startled me because I dinna know she was back.”

  Alana waited impatiently while Mrs. Thayer dabbed her eyes again. “She told me her mother had left for Dunkirk to visit her cousins, that there’d been illness so she had to leave immediately. She’d be given a lady’s maid there, and that I was dismissed. She said I was to leave by the end of the day and left me there with my mouth hanging open.” She sniffed. “I had to pack and leave without a notice or anywhere to go. I went to an acquaintance in the village—had to walk all the way with my bags.”

  “But what about Aunt Elspeth?”

  “That’s what had me worried. I’ve been with Lady Elspeth for years. She’d never have left without me and in such haste. Why, the lady’s clothing hadn’t been packed. Then today I learned that the other servants had been dismissed and a new cook brought in.”

  “What about Vanora’s lady’s maid?”

  “She dinna return from London. I suppose Lady Vanora brought in another lady’s maid, probably from one of the Gilmour crofts.” Mrs. Thayer sent her an agonized look. “What’s to be done about it?”

  “Lord Carmichael has sent investigators to check the roads leading out to find if anyone saw Aunt Elspeth leave and where she was going, but they haven’t returned.”

  Alana’s worry deepened as she considered all the unanswered questions and all the horrible possibilities. Vanora was either demonic or insane and probably had been for years. At the same time, she was shrewd.

  A desire to do something took hold of her. She stood to end the interview. “I’ll report this to my husband, and we’ll find Aunt Elspeth. In the meantime, if you have no other position, you can serve as my lady’s maid until Aunt Elspeth returns.” That was at least something she could do. Mina was overworked as it was, caring for her and Finella.

  Mrs. Thayer broke into renewed sobs. “I have nothing else, and I’d be ever so indebted to your ladyship, but please find Lady Elspeth before it’s too late.”

  “We shall. Come, I’ll introduce you to my current lady’s maid and explain the new assignments.”

  After Alana had explained the circumstances to Mina and left Mrs. Thayer in her capable hands, she rushed back downstairs and saw Rory coming toward her.

  Alana sagged with relief. “Thank heavens you’ve returned. Where is Gavin?”

  “He and the others left about an hour ago. Gavin sent me back.”

  Apprehension again brought her to attention. “Why?”

  Rory searched her face as if he didn’t want to answer. “Someone has to protect the castle.”

  She squared her shoulders. “Gavin needs to be here. I need him. No arguments, please, just go and bring him back.”

  “I can’t do that, Alana, they’re on a mission.”

  “I know what their mission is, but there’s a more important mission here.”

  “What?”

  She looked at him in exasperation. Why couldn’t men just do what needed to be done? “I doona have time to explain at this moment, just do as I say, Rory. Go, bring him back.”

  Tears began to burn the backs of her eyes as frustration grew. She saw he wanted to argue, and there was no time. Clenching her hands into fists, she beat on his chest. “Go now, do…you…understand? Tell him I’m losing the babe, tell him I’m dying, anything, but bring him back.”

  Rory stepped back, visibly startled. “Very well, Alana, I’ll go. Don’t upset yourself. Just…go lie down.” He walked backwards as he spoke, then pivoted and left in wide strides.

  She felt nausea roiling in her throat, but Halberd came in from the kitchen before she’d reached the stairs. “M’lady, a messenger from Gilmour Hall just left a missive for you.”

  With some effort, she swallowed her nausea and snatched the note from his hands. The words swam before her eyes.

  I can’t control the situation any longer. Come to Gilmour Hall immediately. I can show you where your husband is. I can’t do this alone. Come quickly if you wish to save him. V

  Chapter 23

  His course set, Gavin maneuvered his black stallion around the trees of the forest surrounding Glen Baldy.

  The decision he’d thought to be so sensible this morning now seemed foolhardy, but despite the tension that threatened to snap his nerves, he still believed this to be the only way. As he negotiated up the last rocky hill, he rehearsed the words to persuade the Kerr brothers to tell the truth.

  Topping the rise, he saw three of them, standing with their horses in the thin growth of heather. A strange meeting place, yet no one from below could see. To the left the towers of Gilmour Hall rose above the tree line.

  “Welcome, Lord Carmichael. Tis glad I am to do business.” A sneer twisted Tor Kerr’s moustache.

  “Where’s Matt?” Gavin dismounted, his gaze sweeping the horizon.

  “He’s scouring the hills to make sure ye dinna bring yer henchmen.”

  Gavin ignored that remark. He might as well get to the business at hand. “If you’ll tell me who’s been helping you dispose of your contraband, I’ll let you go—all of you.”

  “You’ll let us?” Tor laughed.

  “That’s right. If you don’t, I’ll raise an army, if necessary, to hunt you down and give no mercy.”

  Tor nodded to his brothers, and they spread out behind Gavin.

  Blood pounded in Gavin’s ears as apprehension coiled around him like a snake. He could detect no sign that his threats meant anything to these thugs. “In the two years you’ve been terrorizing travelers, you’ve taken a great deal of money and jewels. Where has it gone?”

  The men kept circling him, but he continued. “If you’d tried to spend the money or sell the jewels, merchants would have been suspicious. Who’s been holding the stash and supplying your goods? Lady Vanora perhaps?”

  Tor stopped in his tracks. “No need ye shouldna know the truth. Who do you think told us when the gentry would be traveling the roads?” He laughed under his breath. “Lady Vanora’s keeping our bounty, and aye, supplying us with rum. That’s about all we’ve needed. She’ll divide the booty up soon, and give us the clothing of gentlemen. We’ll be off to the city where they won’t care whence the money came from. She keeps the jewels for her part.”

  Now Gavin laughed. “That was her plan. She certainly gets the better of the bargain. You believe she’ll give you anything?”

  Shading his eyes with a grimy hand, Tor gazed toward Gilmour Hall. “Aye, we believe her. She’s always taken care of us.” He saluted the castle.

  With a sudden lurch, Tor’s brothers grabbed Gavin from behind, pulling his arms back and dragging him down. Tor fell on top of him, pinning his legs.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Impaled as he was, all Gavin could do was voice h
is protest.

  No one answered while the men worked to tie Gavin by the wrists with long hemp ropes. Resting back on Gavin’s legs, Tor gazed toward the castle. “Lady Vanora takes care of us if we follow orders.”

  His brothers took each long rope and anchored them to their horses. The animals were tied to nothing more than scrub bushes situated about ten yards away.

  “Ya see yon turret?” Tor pointed to the castle as the other two slipped noose ropes over Gavin’s feet.

  Gavin squinted against the sun’s glare and glanced to the tower that rose on the side of Gilmour Hall. Four turrets jutted out, and one of them had suffered unrepaired damage where a dark hole marred the structure.

  “Vanora will be there to watch your demise.” Tor spoke as casually as if he’d said she’d come out to watch a carnival show.

  They intended to kill him. That possibility had always hovered at the back of his mind. It was the risk he’d taken.

  With growing alarm, he saw the men attach the ropes to his and Tor’s horses. They intended to tear him apart in the ancient execution called drawing and quartering. Gavin couldn’t prevent the shudder running through him. Even the descriptions he’d read about that torture had been so horrific, he’d skimmed over the details.

  “If you do this, every decent man in Scotland and England will be after you. You won’t be safe in any city.”

  Tor grinned. “That’s why we’ll be taken to a ship and sail to Mexico.”

  Gavin frantically tried to calculate how long it would take for them to carry out Vanora’s evil plan? “My men will be coming for me if I don’t return immediately.”

  It was a lie. Afraid the Kerrs would run off before he could interrogate them, he’d told his men not to come after him for an hour.

  Lie or not, it got Tor’s attention. “Where is that stupid Matt?” Even as he snarled the words, the sound of horses’ hooves reached them.

  Matt rode up and slid out of the saddle.

  “Two men’re coming.” Matt heaved in gulps of air as if he’d been riding hard. Two men? Gavin had left eight men below. Maybe Dougal and Keith felt the urgency and disobeyed his orders.

  A string of curses spilled from Tor. The other Kerrs ran up, leaving their horses untethered. Gavin prayed the horses didn’t take off and drag him with them. “What’d he say?” one of the brothers asked.

  “Listen to me, they have muskets and pistols.” Matt shouted. “But all isna lost. They havena gotten to the ledge yet. If you three go down there you can ambush them. I’m tired. I’ll stay here and watch him.” Matt nodded to where Gavin lay prostrate on the ground.

  Tor’s beady eyes shifted from one to the other. “He’s right. The three of us can take them.” He darted a hasty glance to the castle. “We can be back within ten minutes. Get your horses. I’ll take Matt’s. Leave my horse tied to the chieftain’s arm and leave his leg tied to his horse. If he moves, the horses will drag him to death.”

  “I have me dagger.” Matt rested his hand on the hilt of his weapon. “He willna be moving at all.”

  The Kerr brothers mounted their horses, and Tor cast one last glance at the castle’s tower before spurring his horse into a furious gallop. The horses’ hooves sent a shower of small stones on Gavin’s face as the others raced after Tor.

  As soon as they’d disappeared from sight, Matt dropped down on his knees beside Gavin and drew his knife from its sheath.

  Gavin strained to move as far away from the glinting blade as possible. “What are you going to do?”

  Matt’s twisted mouth relaxed into a smile. “You showed me mercy, Gavin Carmichael. I’ll show you mercy.” He raised the weapon.

  This was the end. Matt was going to stab him to save him from the pain of being torn asunder by the horses. A mercy indeed. Gavin closed his eyes and, with one last prayer for Alana and his child, prepared for death.

  The rope holding his right arm outstretched snapped, and he opened his eyes. Matt had moved to his left leg and cut that rope. Gavin jumped up, not knowing what to make of Matt.

  The young man slipped the knife back in its sheath and nodded toward the castle. “She intends to trick yer wife up there. Her plan is to make Lady Carmichael watch while you die, then Vanora will push yer lady from the tower. We doona have much time. Me brothers will soon discover I lied, and there’s no one coming. If Vanora finds her plans thwarted, she might still kill yer wife.”

  Gavin shook his addled head. His own certain death had shifted to that of his wife, and he had to clear his wits.

  He agreed there was no time to be wasted. If Vanora enticed Alana to the castle, he must make haste to rescue her. Surely Alana wouldn’t be foolish enough to go to Gilmour, but he couldn’t take the chance.

  Both he and Matt were saddled within seconds. “I owe you my life, Matt. What will you do?”

  “Vanora has already given me my portion of the booty. I’m going to seek me fortune.” Matt turned his horse in the opposite direction.

  “Have no fear you’ll be hunted. God speed, Matt Kerr. If you need my help, send word.” Gavin didn’t wait for a reply. Setting his stallion to Gilmour Hall, he rammed his knees into the animal’s flanks.

  Please God, one more miracle. Let me get there in time.

  ***

  Alana slid from Orion’s saddle and tethered him to the railing of the steps leading to the kitchen at Gilmour Hall. She’d avoided the front entrance lest Vanora meet her there, but Mrs. Thayer had said there was a new cook at the castle, so perhaps she’d give Alana entrance without alerting anyone else.

  As she climbed the steps, she slipped her hand into the deep pocket of her smock and curled her fingers around the hilt of the dirk hidden there. Would she be able to strike out at Vanora if the need arose? She sucked in a deep breath. Yes, she could if she were threatened. It wasn’t her own life at stake, but her child’s. With God’s help, she’d do what had to be done.

  Her hand shook as she raised it to knock on the door, softly at first, and when no one answered, harder. She waited for what seemed hours, then pulled the handle. The door swung open without as much as a creak.

  She crept into the room with cautious steps, afraid that the squeak of an uneven board might betray her. No one came into view. No smells of cooking or anything else to indicate anyone was about. Rather than relieve her, this only increased her unease.

  A sound shattered the silence, and she stiffened. A strange tapping grew as she continued across the room, seeming to come from somewhere below her. She came to a door that probably led to a pantry.

  She grasped the cold steel of the knob and opened the door. Not to a pantry, but a stairwell, likely leading to the place where root vegetables were stored, yet this was where the tapping came from. The distinct ping of metal on metal fell on her ears in a rhythm.

  A dim, eerie light emulated from the bottom and lit the stairs well enough that she lifted her skirt and descended, holding onto the railing with one hand and keeping the other firmly gripped to the dirk. Concern that the cook might have met with some accident kept Alana moving down the steps.

  Sheer terror kept her from calling out.

  At the bottom, she swallowed the lump in her throat and managed to shout. “Is anyone down here?”

  “Alana? Is that you?”

  “Aunt Elspeth?” Alana quickened her steps to the sound of her aunt’s voice. She came to an iron door, the bottom solid, the top with iron bars, and the two separated by a narrow slit.

  Aunt Elspeth squinted at her. “Alana, it is you. Thank the heavens. Is Gavin with you? Did you bring soldiers?”

  “Soldiers? No. Gavin went after the Kerrs.” Alana glanced around and spied the source of the light—a whale oil lantern resting on the floor several paces away. She hurried to retrieve it and lifted it high to get a better look at her aunt, hardly recognizing the woman. The light picked out deep trenches around Elspeth’s eyes and mouth. Her aunt had aged twenty years since she’d last seen her.

  Elspeth sh
ook her bedraggled head. “Then you must go. You’re in grave danger. Hurry, gather some men and—”

  “There are no men, Aunt Elspeth.” She glanced to the iron lock. “Who has the key?”

  “She has the key. You can’t get me out without help. Go to the Carmichael crofters.” Aunt Elspeth didn’t have to tell her who “she” was.

  The suggestion to seek the crofters’ help made good sense, but Alana had to assess the situation. “Not until you tell me what happened. How did you come to be locked up?”

  “Those scoundrels who worked for Vanora, the Kerr crofters, attacked me two days ago, dragged me down here. All they told me was that Vanora would have the key, and she’d release me when she was ready. Some old woman brought me some gruel, but just slid the dish in and said not a word.”

  Aunt Elspeth pushed the stray tendrils of her disheveled hair from her face. “I’ve been beating on these bars off and on since last night with a spoon. That’s all I know, but if Vanora finds you here, she’ll lock you up—or worse.”

  “Didn’t Vanora speak to you at all when she returned from London?”

  “Aye, she did, and I made the mistake of telling her the truth.” Elspeth grabbed the bars and pressed her face against them. “Alana, you must get out of here. You’re in danger. Don’t you understand? Vanora is mad. She has been for a long time, but God help me, I refused to accept it.”

  “First tell me the truth, Aunt Elspeth. Why did she put you down here?”

  Elspeth’s eyes shuttered, and she drew in a deep breath as one facing onslaught. “Very well, you must know the truth. I’m not your aunt, Alana. I’m your mother.”

  A moment of stunned silence fell over them. The horror of the situation had rendered her aunt senseless. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m sorry, Alana. It’s true. I’ve been living a lie. We’ve all been living a lie.” Elspeth’s knuckles turned white from gripping the bars as tears tracked down her cheeks. “When Hester died, I took her babe to nurse along with you.’”

  Shock still held onto Alana. Not finding any sensible words to say, all she could do was stare at this woman she suddenly didn’t know.